TORONTO - At least 21 of Ontario's 75 school boards ignored the Liberal government's public sector wage freeze in 2013 and gave salary increases to their directors of education.
The issue came to light after the Toronto District School Board voted Monday night to allow its director of education, Donna Quan, to keep her $289,000 salary even though her predecessor was paid $17,000 less.
Education Minister Liz Sandals sent the TDSB a letter saying Quan's salary should be $272,000, but trustees voted for the increased rate after hearing that 20 other school boards also gave their directors of education pay hikes.
Most of them received salary increases of less than five per cent, but some of the pay hikes went into double digits.
Sandals' office did not immediately respond to questions about the decision by 21 school boards to increase salaries despite the public sector wage freeze.
A report from an independent review of the TDSB ordered by the Ontario government after some very public fights between some trustees and Quan is expected to be released within days.
